
Whilst the Audit Committee has the delegated responsibility of
monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the Group’s overall
internal control systems, this Committee plays an important role,
and received interim ndings from the Group Investigations Team
on the adequacy of controls in place in this complex contract. This
matter began initially as an audit of the cost reporting process of the
E&C business, which was passed to the Group Investigations Team
for further inquiry. Details of the error identied, the outcome of the
investigation, and the review of the Group's internal controls, are set
out on page 114 and 115.
In early 2021, a gap analysis on the compliance programme was
undertaken in consultation with Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP
(FSS), the external advisors that began working with the Group in
2019. The identied actions were closely monitored and reviewed
quarterly, with the aim of providing certainty to the Committee
that the Group had a well-functioning compliance programme in
place to meet external expectations. The programme maturity was
identied by FSS as making good progress.
This gap analysis exercise was revisited at the end of 2022, to
consider potential areas which may require further attention. Each
analysis considered the control elements of different phases of the
compliance programme, evaluating the current and desired state
for each item. Where gaps were identied, the analysis set out
dened actions, assigned priorities, owners, time horizons, and the
desired end-state of each item, to ensure gaps could be narrowed
or, ideally, closed.
To this end, a communications initiative to educate the business
about the different compliance processes, and the value brought
by each in addressing the risks that the Company and employees
might face should the process not be followed thoroughly, was
rolled out during the year.
A benchmarking exercise was also conducted during the year to
ensure the Company was operating in line with peers in managing
compliance risk. Overall, the data showed that the Company’s
compliance programme was, in most areas, compliant with best
practice and operating in line with peers. One area requiring further
enhancement was training and accordingly, customised training for
high-risk employees was introduced, with systems implemented to
address any training failures.
During 2022, FSS also conducted effectiveness testing on the due
diligence programme and investigations procedures to ensure both
programmes were operating as intended and fully aligned with their
respective mandates.
FSS determined that the investigation programme was well
designed and well-functioning, with strong management support.
The ‘triage’ committee, which considers all high-risk investigations
into alleged breaches of the Company’s Code of Conduct, and
which veries the severity level assigned and decides on the
most appropriate course of action, was thought to be working
well. Following receipt of any Speak Up reports, investigation
plans were properly scoped and planned, resulting in effective
and efcient investigations and fair, accurate and timely reporting.
Progress reports on all cases were provided to the Committee,
with full granularity of each high-risk case considered in detail and
remediation plans monitored.
The external due diligence platform, provided by Dow Jones,
was also rened further to enhance the Company’s approach and
increase the emphasis on compliance evaluation and ongoing
monitoring of all third parties. During 2022, an Internal Audit review
on the operating effectiveness of the compliance due diligence was
undertaken. Enhancement opportunities were identied, and these
were implemented during the year to close out backlog issues and
to enable further enhancements to the process to
be undertaken.
A compliance culture review, last completed in 2019, was also
undertaken, with the aim of assessing both the ‘tone from the
top’ as well as the ‘tone from the middle’, with outputs compared
with the original exercise. The Committee was encouraged by the
progress made. In light of the continued improvements, Group
Compliance intends to ascertain whether ISO-37001 certication
can be obtained. This standard sets out the requirements for
the establishment, implementation, operation, maintenance, and
continual improvement of an anti-bribery management system
and provides guidance on the actions and approaches that can
be taken by companies to adhere to the requirements. ISO-37001
is intended to improve a company’s ability to prevent, detect,
and respond to bribery and comply with anti-bribery laws and
commitments.
Although continued improvements were seen throughout the
year, the Committee recognised that resourcing remained a
critical challenge for the Group Compliance function, mainly
due to challenging market conditions and a much tighter labour
market across the industry. A new Trade Compliance Manager
was appointed towards the end of the year, along with a new
Compliance Manager, who was appointed to provide support
to the contracts review process. Further appointments to the
Investigations team will be made during 2023, to enhance the skill
set within the team, while internal resources will be made available
to assist the Due Diligence team.
In light of the ongoing political situation, the Group Compliance
team extensively monitored the rapidly evolving sanctions regime
against Russia throughout the year, providing updates to the
Committee at each meeting. This involved the arrangements
related to the safe completion and handover of our Sakhalin Energy
project. The Committee has noted that since the year-end, Petrofac
has divested its control of and economic interest in the Sakhalin
Technical Training Centre, such that there are no ongoing operations
in Russia.
As required by the Committee’s terms of reference, minutes of the
meetings held by the Third Party Risk Committee (TPRC) were
reviewed during the year. A total of 80 new third parties within the
TPRC’s remit, including logistics and tax, legal and visa services,
were engaged by the Group during 2022.
Looking forward, the Committee recognises the need to continue
to reinforce the compliance message, and ensure all employees
acknowledge that how we do business is just as important as what
we do.
I am satised with the progress achieved and know that the
continued implementation of good principles and behaviours
will further embed the highest ethical standards throughout the
organisation. The Committee will work with the new Group Chief
Executive to make sure that the Company continues to progress
and further strengthen our compliance programme.
FRANCESCA DI CARLO
Chair of the Compliance and Ethics Committee
27 April 2023
Compliance and Ethics Committee report continued
PETROFAC LIMITED | Annual report and accounts 2022
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